SHANE Warne is likely to bring the curtain down on his amazing Test career in 2007.

Test cricket's greatest wicket taker, pictured left, is hoping to make the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia his farewell to international cricket.

However, he has still not ruled out returning to the one-day international arena at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean almost immediately afterwards.

January 2007 would give Warne the opportunity to play his final two Test matches on two of his favourite grounds in Melbourne and Sydney - the latter being where he made his Test debut against India in 1992.

Warne's brother and agent, Jason Warne, insisted the Hampshire skipper wanted to retire on his own terms.

"The Ashes series in 2006-07 could be Shane's last series," Jason said. "He's mentioned that during talks we've had about when he might retire.

"If he didn't have kids, he might play forever, but he misses them a lot these days when tours take him away.

"If the World Cup is coming around and the side doesn't have a permanent leg-spinner, he could make himself available. It's a possibility."

If Warne retires in 18 months' time, and maintains his current average of 4.7 wickets a Test, he could finish with more than 700 wickets.